Hobby-horse automobile.



F. LODER.

HOBBY HORSE AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1915.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- INVENTOR:

Mia w BY e ATTORNEY.

WITNESSE COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH Cu-.\vAsHlNGToN. D c.

F. LODER.

HOBBY HORSE AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1915.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2- pair a HOBBY-HORSE AUTOMOBILE.

Application filed April 8, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK LoDER, a citizen of the, United States of America, residing at La Fayette, in the county of Tippecanoe and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Hobby-Horse Automobile, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings illustrating same.

My invention relates to amusement devices, and more in particular to amusement devices such as hobby-horse amusement de vices adapted to be operated in connection with automobiles or other vehicles.

The principal objects of my invention are, to provide a practical amusement device of the character above mentioned and to provide various improvements in such devices as will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

Still other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention I employ an automobile, or other suitable vehicle, preferably equipped with a platform, and a plurality of hobby-horses or other passenger-carrying devices located above the platform and having mechanism attached thereto for operating same either while the automobile or other vehicle is standing still or is traveling, or both. I also preferably provide a fence around the platform to prevent the passengers from falling off of the amusement device ontof the ground. I also preferably providesome sort of an automatic player somewhere on or in the amusement device and operably connect it with the passenger-carrying de-,

vices to operate therewith to supply music to the passengers while the )assenger-carrying devices are in operation. 1

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of my invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of amusement device of this invention, with the fence around the platform removed;

2 is a sectional elevation of the amuse ment device of the mventlon, taken long1' tudinally thereof, with portions shown in el vation and portions shown in cross-section to show the interior mechanism of the' vehicle; Fig. 3 1s a cross-sectional v1ew of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, taken on line XX thereof and showing the cooperative relation of the two footoperated friction clutches; and Fig. 4c is a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Serial No. 2&040.

cross-sectionalview of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, taken on line YY thereof with portions shown in elevation and showing one of the crank-shafts for operating the hobby-horses or other passenger-carrying devices.

Like characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the auto mobile body, having wheels 2 2, a hood 3 within which is the engine for running the automobile, and otherwise constructed so as to adapt it for road service the same as other automobiles.

1 is a platform covering the body of the automobile back of the engine hood 3, and 5 5 are steps leading to the platform 1.

6 is a fence placed around the platform to keep the passengers from falling off of v the vehicle onto the ground. The fence 6 may be removable so as to be used or not as desired.

7 is a seat for the chauffeur.

b 18 is the steering wheel for the automo 9 is the main drive shaft for the automobile. which is preferably connected to the engine drive shaft by a friction clutch 10 which is operated by a foot lever 11. The outer toothed portion 12 of the clutch 10 is connected rigidly to the engine drive shaft so as to always rotate therewith when the engine is running. The toothed portion 12 gears with another toothed portion 13 on another friction clutch 14 which is operated by a foot lever 15. It will be readily seen that with this construction the toothed portion 13 of the clutch 14 always rotates when the toothed portion 12 rotates. Each of the friction clutches 10 and 14 comprises an outer member 16 which carries the toothed portion 12 or 13, and an inner taperedmember 17 adapted to fit within the outer member 16, the inner member 17 being operated along its shaft so as to clutch with the clutch member 16 in a manner wellunderstood, by means of a yoke member 18 straddling a collar member 19 which. is operably connected with the member 17, the yoke member 18 being operated by its foot lever 11 or 15, preferably as shown in Fig. 2. The yoke members 18 18 and foot levers 11 and 15, are carried by a transversely-disposed rod the ends of which are held to the frame 20 of the automobile by suitable brackets 21 21.

The shaft 22, extending longitudinally of the automobile, is connected with the clutch member 17 of clutch 14: so as. to. rotate there.- with. The shaft 22 carries a pair of gear wheels 23 23 adapted to gear spirally with a pair of pinions 24 2%, respectively, carried by respective crank shafts 25 25 transversely arranged with respect to the automobile and carried by the frame 20 20 of the automobile within suitable bearingmembers 26 26. By means of this construction arotation of the shaft 22 causes a rotation of each of the shafts 25 25. Each of the transverselydisposed rods 27 27 carries a row of hobbyhorses 28 28, or other passenger-carrying dew ices, preferably supported by members 29 29 as shown in Fig. 2. Each of the members 29 29 is caused to oscillate on its rod 27 by means of an operating member 30 pivotally attached to the member 29 as at 31 and also operably attached. to the crankshaft 25 as at 32. By this arrangement, when the crank shaft 25 is rotated, the horses 28 28 connected therewith by the members 30 30 are caused to oscillate about,

the rod 27 much the same as a galloping motion of the horse. The cranks 32 82 on the crank-shafts 25 are preferably arranged so that they alternately extend in opposite directions, so that the horses 28 28 of each transverse row will have their heads up and down, alternately, at a particular instant. I also preferably arrange the mechanism so that each horse in a front row will have his head up while the horse directly back of him has his head down. This arrangement is thought to make a more pleasing operation of the horses as a whole;

Of course i wish it to be understood that various mechanisms may be employed in this invention for producing various movements of each individual horse or other passengercarrying device, and also for producing various v combinations of movements of the various horses or other passenger-carrying devices. The mechanism illustrated is simply one way of accomplishing the desired result. I also desire it to be understood that if de sired I may operate the hobby-horses or other passenger-carrying devices from other sources of power beside the automobile engine, such as a storage battery, compressed air, etc.

I may, if desired, employ some sort of an automatic player 33 for providing music for the passengers, and belt same to a pulley 34- on the shaft 22' so that music will be provided whenever the horses 28 28 are operated. I may also equip the vehicle with numerous lights of various colors to at tract attention at nights, if desired.

Thedevice may be operated as follows When the clutch 10 is thrown in, the automobile is run from the engine. When the engine is running and clutch 14; is thrown.

ning, the operation of the hobby-horses may be stopped, if desired, without stopping the automobile.

Also, the automobile may be first started and then the hobby-horses later thrown into gear and operated. Also,both

the automobile and the hobby-horses may be running, and then the automobile nay be stopped without stopping the operation of the hobby-horses. These operations are possible on account of the two clutches 10 and 1% being operable independently of each other-and both being operated from the engin v I do not wish to limit this invention to the exact details. herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be made or utilized without. departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An amusement device of the character described, comprising an automobile having a platform thereon and steps leading there to, a plurality of hobby-horses locatedabove the platform, a fence around the hobbyhorses near the, edge of the platform, an en gine. for running the automobile, a foot opera-ted friction clutch driven by the engins for driving the automobile as desired, a second foot-operated friction clutch geared to the first said clutch whereby the second said clutch is also driven from the engine, mechanism connecting; the second said clutch with the hobby-horses whereby the latter are. given a rocking movement, individually, when the second said clutch isthrown in and the engine is running, the said clutches being operable independently of each other whereby the automobile and the hobbyhorses may be operated independently of eachother, a music player carried by the automobile and connected to be operated with the hobby-horses, and lights carried by the automobile for night illumination.

2, An amusement device of the character described, comprising an automobile having a platform thereon, a plurality of passengercarrying devices located above the platform,

a fence around the passenger-carrying dev ces, a source of power for running the automobile. a friction clutch drlven from the sourceof. power for driving the automobile l as desired, a second friction .clutch geared to the first said clutch whereby the second said clutch is also driven from the said source of power, mechanism connecting the second. said clutch with the passenger-carry.

ing devices whereby the latter are given a predetermined movement when the second said clutch is thrown in and is being operated from the said source of power, the said clutches being operable independently of each other whereby theautomobile and the passenger-carrying devices may be operated independently of each other, and a music player carried by the automobile and connected to be operated with the passengercarrying devices.

3. An amusement device of the character described, comprising an automobile having a platform thereon, a plurality of passenger-carrying devices located above the platform, a source of power for running the automobile, and a pair of clutches both driven from the said source of power, one of the said clutches being for driving the automobile from the said source of power as desired, the other said clutch having mechanismconnecting it with the passenger-carrying devices whereby the latter may be operated in a predetermined manner from the said source of power as desired, the said clutches being operable independently of each other whereby the said automobile and the passenger-carrying devices may be operated independently of each other.

4. An amusement device of the character described, comprising an automobile having a platform thereon, a plurality of hobby horses located above the platform, an engine for running the automobile, a foot-operated friction clutch driven by the engine, mechanism connecting the said clutch with the hobby-horses whereby the latter are given a rocking movement when the clutch is thrown in and the engine is running, and a musicplaying device carried by the automobile and connected to be operated with the hobbyhorses.

5. An amusement device ofthe character described, comprising a one-car vehicle having a platform thereon, a plurality of hobbyhorses located above the platform, an engine for running the vehicle. a foot-operated fric tion clutch driven by the engine, mechanism connecting the said clutch with the hobbyhorses whereby the latter are given a rocking movement when the clutch is thrown in and the engine is running, and a music-playing device carried by the vehicle and connected to be operated with the hobby-horses.

6. An amusement device of the character described, comprising an automobile having a platform thereon, a plurality of passengercarrying devices located above the platform, an engine for running the automobile, a clutch driven from the engine, mechanism connecting the clutch with-the passengercarrying devices whereby the latter are given a predetermined movement when the clutch is thrown in and the engine is running, and a music-playing device carried by the au tomobile and connected to be operated with the passenger-carrying devices.

7. An amusement device of the character described, comprising a one-car vehicle having a platform thereon, a plurality of passenger-carrying devices located above the platform, an engine for running the vehicle, a clutch driven from the engine, mechanism connecting the clutch with the passengercarrying devices whereby the latter are given a predetermined movement when the clutch is thrown in and the engine is running, and a music-playing device carried by the vehicle and connected to be operated with the passenger-carrying devices.

8. An amusement device of the character set forth, comprising an automobile having platform thereon, a plurality of passengercarrying devices located above the platform, an engine for running the automobile, mechanism driven by the engine and connected with the passenger-carrying devices for operating them in a predetermined manner, and a musioplaying device carried by the automobile and connected to be operated with the passenger-carrying devices.

9. An amusement device of the character set forth, comprising a one-car vehicle having a platform thereon, a plurality of passenger-carrying devices located above the platform, an engine for running the vehicle, mechanism driven by the engine and con nected with the passenger-carrying devices foroperating them in a predetermined manner, and a music-playing device carried by the vehicle and connected to be operated with the passenger-carrying devices.

10. An amusement device of the character set forth, comprising an automobile having a platform thereon, a plurality of passenger-carrying devices located above the platform, a source of power carried by the automobile, mechanism driven from the source of power and connected with the passsenger-carrying devices for operating them in a predetermined manner, and a musicplaying device carried by the automobile and connected to be operated with the passenger-carrying devices.

11. An amusement device of the character set forth, comprising a one-car vehicle having a platform thereon, a plurality of passenger-carrying devices located above the platform, a source of power carried by the vehicle, mechanism driven from the source of power and connected with the passengercarrying devices for operating them in a predetermined manner, and a i'nusic-playing device carried by the vehicle and connected to be operated with the passenger-carrying devices.

12. An amusement device of the character set forth, comprising a one-car vehicle having a platform thereon, a plurality of passenger-carrying devices located above the platform, a source of power carried by the vehicle, a clutch driven from the source of power, mechanism connecting the clutch with the passenger-carrying devices whereby the latter are operated in a predetermined manner from the said source of power when the clutch is thrown in, and. a musicplaying device carried by the vehicle and connected to be operated withthe passenger-carrying devices.

13. An amusement device of the character set forth, comprising a one-car vehicle, a plurality of passenger-carrying devices carried by the vehicle, a source of power carried by the vehicle, mechanism driven from the source of power and connected with the passenger-carrying devices for operating them in a predetermined manner, and a musicplaying device carried by the vehicle and connected to be operated with the pas senger-carrying devices.

14:. An amusement device of the character set forth, comprising a one-car vehicle, a plurality of passenger-carrying devices carried by the vehicle, means for operatingthe passenger-oarrying devices in a predetermined manner, and a music-playing device carried by the vehicle and connected to be operated with the passenger-carrying devices.

15. An amusement device of the character described, comprising a one-car vehicle having a platform thereon, a plurality of hobbv-horses located above the platform, an engine for running the vehicle, mechanism driven by the engine and connected with the hobby-horses for operating them in a predetermined manner, the said mechanism having means for giving alternate hobby-horses different movements simultaneously, and a music-playingdevice carried by the vehicle and connected to be operated with the hobby-horses.

16. An amusement device of the character ing a platform thereon, a plurality of hobbyhorses located above the platform, a source of power carried by the vehicle, mechanism driven from the source of power and connected with the hobby-horses for operating them in a predetermined manner, the said mechanism having means for giving adjacent hobby-horses different movements simultaneously, and a music-playing device carried by the vehicle and connected to be operated with the hobby-horses.

17. An amusement device of the character set forth, comprising a one-car vehicle, a plurality of passenger-carryingdevices carried by the vehicle, a source of power carried by the vehicle, mechanism driven fro-m the source of power and connected with the passengencarrying devices for operating them in a predetermined manner, the said ,mech: anism havingmeans for giving alternate passengen-carrying devices different movements simultaneously and a musioplaying device. carriedby the vehicle and connected to be operated with the passenger-carrying devices.

18. An amusement device of the character set forth, comprising a onerca-r vehicle, a plurality of passenger-carrying devices can ried by the vehicle, a source of power car ried by the vehicle, mechanism driven from the source of power and connected with the passenger-carrying devices for operating them in a predetermined manner, the said mechanism having means for-giving adjacent passenger-carrying devices different movements simultaneously, and a music playing device carried by the vehicle and connected to be operated with the passenger carrying devices.

19.. An amusement device of the character set forth comprising an automobile, a plurality of passenger-carrying devices carried by the automobile, a sourceof power carried by the automobile, and a pair of foot-eperated clutches both driven from, the said source of power, one of the said clutches be ing connected for driving the automobile from the said source of power and the other having mechanism connecting it with the passenger-carrying devices whereby the latter may be operated in a predeterminedmanner from the said source of power, the said clutches being operable independently of each other whereby the automobile and the passenger-carrying devices may be operated independently of each other.

20. An amusement device of the character set forth com-prisingan automobile, a plurality of passenger-carrying devices carried by theauto-mobile, a source of power carried by the automobile, mechanism for imparting a predetermined movement to the passengercarrying devices, and means cooperating with the source of power and with the an tomobile and the said mechanism whereby the automobile and the passenger-carrying devices may be operated from the said source of power independently of each other. 7

21.. An amusement device of the'character set forth comprising a one-car vehicle, a plurality of pas'sengencarrying devices carried by the said vehicle, a source of power carried by the said vehicle, mechanism for imparting a predetermined movement to the passenger-carrying devices, and means cooper a-ting with the source of power and withthe said vehicle and the said mechanism whereby the said vehicle and thepassenger-carrying devices may be operated from the said source of'power independently of each other.

An amusement device of the character set. forth comprising a one-car vehicle, a plurality of passenger-carrying-devices carried by the said vehicle, a source of power carried by the-said vehicle, mechanism for imparting a predetermined movement to the passenger-carrying devices, and means cooperating with the source of power and with the said mechanism whereby the passenger-carrying devices may be operated from the said source of power independently of the operation of the said vehicle as desired.

23. An amusement device of the character set forth comprising a one-car vehicle, a plurality of passenger-carrying devices carried by the said vehicle, a source of power carried by the said vehicle for operating same and the said passenger-carrying devices, mechanism for imparting a predetermined movement to the passenger-carrying devices and 15 vehicle may be operated independently of 20 the operation of the passenger-carrying devices.

As inventor of the foregoing I hereunto subscribe my name, this 2 day of April, 1915.

FRANK LODER. Witnesses:

W. M. Tree, R. M. JoHANsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

